All of a sudden, it feels like a certain type of EDM has taken over K-pop — or at the very least taken over HYBE Corporation. This isn’t an unwelcome development in my eyes (anything to kick up the industry’s tempo a bit!), but we haven’t yet arrived at the anthemic, melodic, euphoric early-2010s EDM that worked so well for K-pop in the past. Maybe we’ll get their eventually. For now, we have a surplus of oontz oontz techno beats and attitude-heavy sing-talk.
To their credit, LE SSERAFIM have upped the intensity a bit with moments of clobbering hardstyle throughout new single Celebration. Though I haven’t loved (or even liked) every song this group has released, I do admire that they take big swerves. Last year’s Spaghetti felt like a joke at first but ended up worming its way into my heart with time. Much of that was due to its sense of completeness, which is the exact opposite experience I come away with after Celebration. I enjoy the energy this song is giving, but there’s not much to it besides energy.
I know some readers roll their eyes when I inevitably compare new K-pop with older K-pop, but while listening to Celebration my mind couldn’t help but flash back to a song like T-ara’s 2014 hit Sugar Free. After all, they’re both chugging club tracks with big beat drops. Listening to these two songs back to back is a trip. Whereas Sugar Free has build and crescendo and story, Celebration is one limp siren call repeated over and over in a detached style that sacrifices the great drive fueling its instrumental. Yes, it sounds stylish, but there’s not much substance under the veneer — melodic or otherwise. The song is in desperate need of a counter-melody… something to break up the repetitive monotony of its structure. What a missed opportunity!
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
Grade: C
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
There are songs with much better effort in this style.
7.75 (7, 9, 7, 8) for me
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the verses are actually very stunning especially verse 2. i feel like we don’t often get verses where they just SING. this is like a party version of ash. it’s just way too short and is missing the extra length and production to jettison it into GREAT territory.
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all in all, it’s another performance song. i’m kinda curious what the album will sound like.. could it be different styles of edm?
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i mean yeah I completely agree w this sentiment but also the fact that one of the biggest groups in kpop is releasing a full blown hardstyle song is honestly incredible n I genuinely excited to see where it goes if this becomes a new trend in kpop
(but also i feel like aces 1st 2 singles would be a much better comparison to make)
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It reminds me of Smart, always stuck in one gear. We need more hooks and a more dynamic song. The producers were playing it way too safe!
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The song felt so fleeting, like it just came and went. Even with that short length it can be much more memorable, there a few Eurovision hardstyle songs that leave more of an impact than this one.
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I sadly agree. Somehow it just feels similar to like how many modern AAA games are relative indie games; more looks but less creativity. Like they are just too stupid, or even scared, of taking risks. Like the songs are customer-averaged investments or something. All the wasted potential is so frustrating.
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i like how the drop didnt even match the rest of the song. what a super uneventful song for a title like “celebrate”
(also thoughts on chrocktikals newest single? I liked it. I think their guitarist is supper unappreciated considering the riffs he pulls off in their songs)
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I was just listening to No.9 and Sugar Free last night lmao. I like the song but it’s held back by the length.
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i have always believed that you can get away with sing-talk or chanting in a song if the production is strong enough to carry the whole track. This is not the case here.
I think they successfully did it in the past with tracks like Crazy. Other groups have also done it, thinking of aespa and XG when it comes to that particular style. But Celebrate suffers from the same thing as Pinky Up: a goofy and dated production style.
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this is so close to be a very good track. I love Y2K rave sounds and can hear a strong Alice Deejay’s Better Off Alone inspo with a bit of TATU as well. But it’s so one note and desperately in need of a break or a proper bridge. Totally biased on this one though.
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This is such a missed opportunity, I wish they could have given it more time to make it feel fully complete. But, I’m glad with this new direction that Hybe’s music is taking tbh.
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